Simon O’Hagan highlights how England’s women are not only excelling on the football field but also dominating the commentary box

Tomorrow’s World Cup final will undoubtedly be the defining moment in the professional careers of the 11 Englishwomen set to face off against Spain in Sydney.

However, there is another noteworthy figure who deserves recognition on this occasion: BBC commentator Robyn Cowen. Her presence should be celebrated just as much as the players on the field.

Although Cowen has been a Match of the Day commentator since 2018, it was during last year’s women’s Euros that she truly made her mark. Her iconic statement, “Dream makers. Record breakers. Game changers,” uttered when England won the final, instantly became part of sports commentary history.

Now, Cowen has the opportunity to commentate on an even more significant match, prompting us to consider the state of football commentary and why she outshines many of her mostly male counterparts.

Football commentary is an art form, with each commentator having their unique style. However, there are certain fundamentals that we can all agree upon.

It should come as no surprise that a football commentator’s first priority is to pay attention to the action on the pitch. Unfortunately, except for Cowen, this seems to be increasingly neglected.

There is an epidemic of digression in commentary boxes, where entire passages of play unfold while the commentator talks about unrelated topics.

This tendency can be attributed to two main reasons. Firstly, commentators often share airtime with pundits, leading to meandering conversations that distract from the match. Secondly, commentators have a fixation on statistics, often including irrelevant ones.

Cowen, however, expertly maintains a balance when working with pundits, as seen in her recent collaboration with former England international Rachel Brown-Finnis during the Australia-England semi-final. She never indulges in personal anecdotes like a certain male commentator did, bringing his mother-in-law into the discussion.

Furthermore, Cowen avoids the sermonizing that has seeped into football commentary. Unlike Jonathan Pearce, who was preoccupied with unfavorably comparing the current tournament to the previous Women’s World Cup, Cowen stays focused on the game.

It should be a reasonable expectation for a commentator to concentrate on the match, interpret the action, offer context, anticipate moves, and find the right words to describe it. Unfortunately, not many commentators possess this ability or inclination.

Cowen is a shining example of an exception. Her presence enhances the viewing experience, as she notices details that others might overlook. Moreover, she demonstrates how the women’s game has surpassed the men’s in terms of avoiding gamesmanship.

Cowen effortlessly conveys the emotions of the game as well. Her simple exclamation, “Oh, wow!” after Ella Toone’s stunning goal against Australia perfectly captured the collective sentiment.

While we await the possibility of Cowen delivering a legendary moment similar to Kenneth Wolstenholme’s iconic quote during the 1966 men’s World Cup, we can rest assured that she is more than capable of rising to the occasion.

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